Justin Lafferty is congratulated after winning the Republican primary vote for House District 89 on Thursday, August 2, 2018 after arriving to the Knox County GOP watch party at the Crowne Plaza. Saul Young/News Sentinel,

Renee Hoyos, Democratic candidate for Tennessee Second Congressional District, gives her speech during Knoxville's Democratic watch party at the Foundry in Knoxville on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

Democratic nominee for Knox County Mayor, Linda Haney, speaks with supporters during Knoxville's Democratic watch party at the Foundry in Knoxville on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett speaks to a crowd after winning the GOP primary to replace Republican Rep. John "Jimmy" Duncan Jr. at the Crowne Plaza in Knox County on Aug. 2, 2018. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

Democratic supporter, Ryan Thompson shares a laugh with friends during Knoxville's Democratic watch party at the Foundry in Knoxville on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

Danny Hansard, of Knoxville, looks at the poll numbers on his phone at the Randy Boyd for Governor watch party at Jackson Terminal in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Renee Hoyos, Democratic candidate for Tennessee Second Congressional District, mingles with supporters during Knoxville's Democratic watch party at the Foundry in Knoxville on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

Democratic supporters, from left, John Mott and Lida Mayer check voting results during Knoxville's Democratic watch party at the Foundry in Knoxville on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

Democratic supporters, from left, Betty Reddick and Catherine Gilreath watch as voting results make their way in during Knoxville's Democratic watch party at the Foundry in Knoxville on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett speaks to a crowd after winning the GOP primary to replace Republican Rep. John Duncan, Jr. at the Crowne Plaza on election day in Knox County Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel,

Glenn Jacobs speaks to a crowd after early results call him Knox County Mayor, next to his wife Crystal at the Crowne Plaza on election day in Knox County Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel,

Josue Hoyos, father to Renee Hoyos, right, along with Louise Piper, middle, speak with John Stewart, left, during Knoxville's Democratic watch party at the Foundry in Knoxville on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel ,

Democratic supporter, Charles Chandler, watches as results come in during Knoxville's Democratic watch party at the Foundry in Knoxville on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

Terry Brothers casts his ballot at Austin-East High School during Tennessee federal, state and county primary elections in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Felecia Outsey looks through voter registration paperwork at Austin-East High School during Tennessee federal, state and county primary elections in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Voters arrive to Austin-East High School to cast their ballots during Tennessee federal, state and county primary elections in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Jeff Tokens and Jerry Jennings, right, take down a machine which would not power up before the polls opened on election day in Knox County Thursday, August 2, 2018. Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Farragut 66 South election official Susie Cataldi watches the clock on her phone to open the polls on election day in Knox County Thursday, August 2, 2018. Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Lindsay Matlock arrived with her dog Gilbert to campaign for her father before the polls opened at Farragut 66 South on election day in Knox County Thursday, August 2, 2018. Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Larsen Jay's sons Alexander and Henry play cards in the bed of his pickup truck as he talks to Randy Smith and Jason Caudill outside the Cedar Bluff precincts on election day in Knox County Thursday, August 2, 2018. Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Terry Brothers casts his ballot at Austin-East High School during Tennessee federal, state and county primary elections in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

A voter casts their ballot at the John T. O'Connor Center during Tennessee federal, state and county primary elections in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Susano, a 48-year-old Republican, ran against Sherri Ridgeway. He will assume control of one of five fee-based offices in Knox County government.

Susano succeeds Cathy Shanks, who stepped down after serving as Circuit Court clerk since 1998.

“I feel good. I feel like our hard work paid off. I look at it as Knox County has hired me to do its job. It’s an incredible opportunity. I truly believe in public service. I take great pride in that," Susano said.

Charles Susano Jr.(Photo: Submitted)

Susano has pointed to his experience in streamlining operations and increasing revenue in his job as collections coordinator and legal assistant to Knox County Trustee Ed Shouse as an asset he would offer the Circuit Court clerk's office.

As a fee-based office, the Circuit Court clerk's office is supposed to be funded by the fees and costs paid by residents who use the office's services with any extra sent to county coffers.

Residents pay a fee, for example, to file a lawsuit through the Circuit Court clerk's office.

Other fees charged under the clerk's office include fees for services provided through Knox County Juvenile Court, Knox County Civil General Sessions Court and Knox County Fourth Circuit Court.

But the revenue stemming from these fees varies, curbing when fewer lawsuits are being filed or decided and, when it comes to juvenile court, when services must by law be provided for free for low-income individuals in certain instances.

The office is operated by about 60 people.

For the past few years, the fees have barely covered annual salaries totaling about $1.7 million. In 2016, Knox County taxpayers, using the county general fund, had to cover a $78,150 deficit in juvenile court revenue.

Susano is a married father of two and also the son of a Tennessee appellate judge who worked for several years as an archaeologist at the University of Tennessee before pivoting into the trustee's office job.

Ridgeway, a 44-year-old Democrat, is a married mother of four and an attorney who specializes in family law. She has devoted years to working in Knox County Juvenile Court on behalf of children and has dealt with cases in other courts managed by the Circuit Court clerk's office.